THE “Two Countries, Twin Parks” (Twin Parks) initiative between Malaysia and China has generated over RM117bil in cumulative gross industrial output since it began in 2012.
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng said the cooperation between the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (CMQIP) in Guangxi, China, and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) in Pahang, had made an impact in various industries.
“Since its opening, MCKIP has gathered various major Chinese enterprises spanning industries such as steel, tyres, papermaking, automobile parts manufacturing and food processing.
“Its cumulative gross industrial output had surpassed 100bil yuan (RM58.8bil) by last December.
“Meanwhile, the first phase of CMQIP has secured 345 project agreements, with a gross industrial output of 106bil yuan (RM62.3bil) and a total foreign trade volume of 45.1bil yuan (RM26.5bil),” he said.
He was speaking in Putrajaya at the eighth seminar on the Twin Parks cooperation.
The 1,511ha CMQIP’s first phase is designed for apartments, industries, businesses and office buildings, according to the Malaysia-China Business Council’s website.
It also includes a 787ha start-up district that started operating in August 2011.
Ng said there was still room for improvement in attracting foreign investment and encouraging greater participation of Malaysian businesses.
He suggested an inter-park coordination mechanism be set up to speed up the project implementation while bringing in enterprises with high added value.
“Investments in technological innovation as well as research and development also need to be increased.
“We should be more active in attracting international investments by leveraging opportunities like the visa exemption.
“Specialised teams should also be formed to attract high-quality small and medium enterprises from overseas as well as more Malaysian companies.”
He also proposed projects that integrated new trends such as automation, digitalisation and green technology.
“We can turn these projects into models for others to learn from.
“We need to improve the overall institutional and business environment of the parks,” he said, noting that they could learn from the Suzhou Industrial Park in Jiangsu, China.
“This can create a more efficient, transparent and convenient investment environment,” Ng added.
The seminar was jointly organised by the two industrial parks, along with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (Guangxi) Investment Holding Group Co Ltd and Guangxi Minzu University.
Also present were UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat and CMQIP deputy director Zuo Kongtian.
Prof Ewe said the seminar’s theme of “Fostering Innovation for a Shared Future” was timely in view of the rapidly changing global economic landscape.
“This rapid evolution is shaped by technological advancements, sustainability regulations and shifting market dynamics.
“It is through collaborative innovation that we can harness opportunities, address shared challenges as well as build a prosperous future,” he said.
The one-day event also saw participants engaging in a forum titled “Collaborative Innovation: Building a Shared Future in a Changing World” and various presentations by experts.
